AGENCY refuse collectors helping to clear Birmingham’s bin backlog have been accused of wearing gear “more suited to a nightclub” than the necessary protective clothing worn by regular council-employed binmen.

AGENCY refuse collectors helping to clear Birmingham’s bin backlog have been accused of wearing gear “more suited to a nightclub” than the necessary protective clothing worn by regular council-employed binmen.

Dustman John Westwood said agency workers employed by Birmingham City Council were being put at risk by not wearing high-visibility jackets and steel-capped boots.

Mr Westwood claimed the agency crews were instead wearing jeans and trainers while trying to work through the backlog.

“If we dressed like this there would be hell to pay. It is against all the health and safety principles employed by the city council,” he said.

“They are dressed as if they are going to a night club. It would be so much better for everyone if the council sorted this dispute out and let the proper binmen go back to doing the job they are trained for.

He claimed the agency crews were “doubling up” and duplicating rounds of normal bin wagons.

“It’s just chaos because they don’t seem to know what they are doing,” he said.

“Agency workers are taking jobs and money which should be going to the council binmen. They do not have the equipment or know-how to do the job properly and it is the residents of Birmingham who are suffering.”

A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said casual staff had been provided with the necessary protective clothing to perform their roles.

He agreed that casual teams may well be operating on rounds alongside normal crews.

“The purpose of using temporary staff is to fill in where there has been disruption. The main purpose of this is to get the backlog cleared as soon as possible,” he said.